The HEROIC vs Astralis match in the IEM Dallas 2025 Europe Closed Qualifier kicks off at 14:00 CET today, with both teams battling for the final qualification spot.
The match is the last of the tournament that started over a week ago, but due to scheduling conflicts the lower bracket final will take place doday.
Having both been knocked into the lower bracket after losses in the upper bracket quarter-finals—Astralis falling 2-0 to BC.Game and HEROIC losing a close 2-1 to 3D MAX—this is their last opportunity to qualify for Dallas.
HEROIC’s Journey in the Lower Bracket
While HEROIC has had some solid moments in the lower bracket, their victories against BIG (2-1) stand out as a notable achievement. However, their other wins, such as the 2-0 victory over Metizport, were expected given the relative skill difference between the two teams. HEROIC, now without its traditional Danish roster, has struggled to recapture the same level of dominance they once had, even with players like cadian, stavn, and jabbi—all of whom have roots in the team, adding a personal dimension to this matchup.
Astralis’ Expected Strong Showing
Astralis comes into this match with strong performances in the lower bracket, having defeated Zero Tenacity and BetBoom by a score of 2-1 in each case. Although these victories were expected given the calibre of teams, Astralis has a solid chance to advance to IEM Dallas. With their wealth of experience, they are a slight favorite going into the match.
Since Day 2 of the qualifier, Astralis also managed to qualify for the playoffs at the PGL Cluj-Napoca in Romania, so the Danes are looking better and better at the moment.
Players to look for
HEROIC’s new star boy Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich is definitely one to watch. The Belarusian has held an impressive 1.24 rating in the past three months and has been the big revelation on the HEROIC roster, which has performed above expectations in 2025.
Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz has been one of the best players in the qualifier so far, and it will be interesting to see if he can deliver once again when everything is on the line.
Map Veto Prediction & Decider Map
After analyzing the veto scenario and the strengths of both teams, here’s the most likely progression:
- HEROIC will likely ban Inferno, given that it has been their permanent ban and Astralis holds a 58% win rate on the map.
- Astralis will likely ban Anubis, as it is their permanent ban and HEROIC has a 56% win rate on the map.
This leaves Mirage and Train as the primary map picks. HEROIC is likely to pick Mirage, given their 75% win rate, while Astralis will probably opt for Train, leveraging their strong 67% win rate and HEROIC’s lack of experience on the map.
The decider map could very likely be Ancient, as both teams have shown decent success on it—Astralis with a 62% win rate and HEROIC with 50%. If the series goes to a third map, Ancient seems like a solid choice to be left for the decider.
The HEROIC vs Astralis match promises to be intense, with both teams eager to book their spot at IEM Dallas 2025. The bookmakers have Astralis as the slight favorite, but HEROIC’s new roster might bring some surprises. The outcome of the match will likely hinge on Mirage and Train, two maps where both teams have significant stakes.
Odds at BC.Game Astralis 1.74 – Heroic 2.02
Livestream Astralis – HEROIC
